A Brief Chat With Marilson Gomes Dos Santos

Marilson Gomes dos Santos of Brazil won the 2006 ING New York City Marathon in 2:09:58 and will be back in New York on Sunday to defend his title. Gomes set a personal marathon best of 2:08:37 with an eighth place finish in London this April; he also ran 2:08:48 for sixth in Chicago in 2004. He recently set a half-marathon personal best of 59:33 with a seventh place finish at the World Road Running Championships in Udine, Italy; it's the fastest 13.1-mile time by a Western Hemisphere athlete. Gomes, now 30, won a 10,000-meter silver medal and a 5000-meter bronze at the Pan American Games this summer in Rio de Janeiro; his wife, Juliana, won the 1500-meter gold. His road race victories include a win at Brazil's famed Sao Silvestre in 2005. He holds Brazil's 5000 and 10,000-meter national records. Gomes' agent Luis Posso served as a translator at a Tuesday press conference.

How has your life changed since your victory in New York last year?Marilson Gomes dos Santos: I had a notion of what the New York City Marathon was. I found out after I ran New York, everywhere I went, all of the people recognized me. It was unbelievable. But in life, I haven't changed much. I'm the same Marilson. I'm humble and quiet and normal.

When you went back to Brazil, how were you greeted?MG: That was a surprise. When I got to the airport, there were tons of people waiting there. And not only that; for a whole month, I had places to go, things to do. And everybody recognizes me now.(Luis Posso interjects: "He was on the cover of "Time" Magazine, the comparison there. He was like with the president, to that level"). I got a medal from the president at the palace, and from the governor of the city where I was born.

Where do you do most of your training, and has your last segment been any way different from your buildup for London in the spring or for New York last fall?MG: I train at Campos do Jordao, located at 1,6000 meters of elevation. It's near Sao Paolo, Brazil. I haven't changed my training much. I feel a lot more confidence and I feel a lot better than last year.

Did you have a plan going into last year's New York City Marathon?MG: Last year's plan was to follow the top group, and then late in the race, attack. But at 30k, I was feeling good, I attacked, and nobody came with me. So the plan changed.

How did you get started running? Was running always his favorite sport, or did he switch over from another sport like soccer?MG: I like to play football, soccer, but my older brother got involved with a group of runners. I started going out with them. Training with them, I found out that I had some talent. That's how it came up. I was 12 years old. By the time I was 13, I started competing.

Were you inspired much by Brazil's former marathon world recordholder, Ronaldo Da Costa, and were you very aware of his achievements when you were a young runner?MG: Yes. All Brazilians runners were influenced somehow by Ronaldo Da Costa. He was a very exceptional athlete. He had a lot of talent. He influenced not only me but many Brazilian runners.

Rio de Janeiro is bidding for the 2016 Olympic Games. As one of the prominent Brazilian athletes, are you being asked to help promote that bid?MG: Not now. It's early.

Were you surprised by your 59:33 half marathon? Did you think you could run that fast?MG: I was a little surprised with the 59:33. I knew I could run under one hour, but I was a little surprised. I'm very happy with the 59:33. That gives me confidence to run a good and fast marathon.

What advice would you have a first-time marathoner?MG: Patience. Be cautious.

This New York City Marathon course is reputed to be difficult. Did you find it be so last year?MG: There are other fast marathons. But I adapted to this course. I like challenging courses, and I think it's a good course for me

A Part of Hearst Digital Media
Runner's World participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites.